Learning to be

Whether we shot out of school in a haze of rebellious glory at the tender age of 16, skulked away quietly terrified, or made a rational choice to start earning, all of us probably wish we’d stayed just a little bit longer. UNISON can help, as Clare Bayley discovers

Open College
.....for education and training to help with your career.

• access to open learning courses, for personal development from basic skills through to professional qualifications
• courses leading to recognised qualifications in a wide range of subjects
• open learning training packs in school administration and health and community care
• Discounts on courses provided by other leading educational providers such as the National Extension College and the Open University

Unison's flexible learning courses mean you don't have to choose between staying at work and improving your qualifications. So don't delay - get a course guide by phoning

0845 355 0845

Unison Members Key Skills Computer Courses

• This is an exciting new Trade Union Members Programme and it is open and free to all union members who want to learn about the use of computers. These are practical, locally held evening courses which aim to develop your skills and confidence in using computers.  The programmes are on going and there is something for everyone, and you can work at your own pace. Popular courses include:
  Computer Skills For Trade Unionists including Word Processing, Databases, Spreadsheets and Communication and the Internet. Levels 1,2,3 available.

• Other short courses include Winning the Organised Workplace, Women's Programme and Communication Skills

TU Studies Unit, Stoke On Trent College, Snow Hill Building, Stoke Rd, Shelton, Stoke On Trent. ST4 2DG

Education Discounts for Unison Members

• Health and Social Welfare (Open University)
• Arts and Crafts (Open University)
• Accounting Technicians
• GSCE's and Marketing at the National Extension College Cambridge
• Supervision and Personnel Management in Manchester
  Tel: 0845 355 0845 for further information

Unison has developed various partnerships with leading education bodies so as to provide courses and training materials to members at a discount, for distance learning.

• Union Representatives Stage I

• Union Representatives Stage 2

• Health & Safety Stage I

• Health & Safety Stage 2

• Union Learning Representatives

• Bargaining and Negotiating Skills

• Stage 3/Other Advanced Courses

• What to do if you are interested in a course

Union Representatives Stage I

This course is for stewards and certain officer posts and will help you develop the skills and knowledge you need to represent your members. You will learn about:

• Building a strong organisation

• Handling Grievances

• Participation in meetings and making reports

• Collective bargaining and agreements

This course will be informal and related to what is happening in your workplace. You will be involved throughout in active discussions with other union Reps.

Union Representatives Stage 2

This course builds on the Stage One Reps course by examining issues in more detail:

• Employment and Labour Law

• Management Techniques

• Negotiation Skills

• the Way Unions Work

You will have an opportunity to carry out a project on an Industrial Relations Issue.

Health & Safety Stage One

This course is for Health & Safety Reps or those expecting to become one. It will provide the knowledge and skills needed to improve health and safety at work including:

• identifying the main hazards and risks in your workplace
• finding and using information on safety standards
• building union organisation on safety and developing ways of taking up problems with management.

The course is practical and relevant to the workplace, with the emphasis on gaining improvements on Health & Safety.

Health & Safety Stage Two

This course is for trade unionists who have completed the Stage One course and have had further practical experience since then. It covers:

• recent developments in health and safety legislation and other sources of standards
• a review of workplace health and safety organisation and risk management techniques
• an in depth health and safety improvement plan

Union Learning Representatives

The training and education of working people is vital to job security and the regeneration of the economy. Find out about the essential new role of trade unions on this issue. The Trade Union Learning Rep will soon be given statutory rights to time off to put learning back on the bargaining agenda. This 5 day course will give you the skills needed to help your members with educational issues and opportunities, which includes:

• providing accurate information on training and learning
• provide initial advice on training and learning
• signposting to other sources of advice and guidance
• giving support to members
• advocating or speaking up on behalf of members on training issues.

Bargaining and Negotiating Skills

One of the key skills that a union representative needs is negotiating skills. All trade union reps require some level of negotiation skills, whether it is dealing with a minor local issue, or negotiating with management over issues of pay, terms and conditions. This course is aimed at developing your bargaining and negotiation skills. It will also assist you to develop your communication skills and will include case studies and role playing.

Employment Act September 2002 and Lifelong Learning Advisors

Lifelong learning means education in the widest sense, so that people can contribute more effectively, as individuals, in their workplace, within the trade union and in a larger societal context.

Central Government is encouraging education and training through its agenda for lifelong learning through legislation and financial support.

To facilitate this, the latest Employment Act, in force from September 2002, has given Lifelong Learning Advisors (LLA) and Union Learning Representatives statutory rights similar to those enjoyed by stewards and Health and Safety Representatives. "This is a historic achievement which will make a big difference for the whole workforce," says general secretary Dave Prentis. "It’s key to making lifelong learning a reality in the wider workforce."

A LLA is more likely to be a member who has recently completed a learning programme, whilst ULRs will probably be existing Stewards who wish to develop learning in their own workplace. Much of the encouraging people to learn is done by union learning reps or lifelong learning advisors in the workplace and Unison is developing its branch based network of these reps and advisors, to help ensure everyone enjoys the right to learn and becoming a learning advisor or rep can help fellow members and boost your morale, as well as involving you in the union if you want.

Unison is currently developing a training programme to equip LLA's with the skills and knowledge to enable them to undertake the job and has already recruited more than 1,000 learning reps and advisers since 2002. These are usually members who have benefited from the union’s learning opportunities and are keen to pass that opportunity on to their fellow members. Their role is to support and encourage new and potential learners.

This is an initiative that may help to offer a new route into trade union activity, this is particularly important as UNISON is under represented by activists who are women, part time or low paid.